Lock mechanism



April 23, 1957 C.k L. EADS LOCK MECHANISM Filed Nov. 18, 1955 INVENTOR.CHARMS A L.' EADS United States Patent 'O LOCKMECHANISM Charles Le Eads,North Hollywood, Calif., .assigner to Arthur R. Adams, Pasadena, Calif.

Application November 18, 1955, Serial No. 547,625

4 Claims. (Cl. 292-110) This invention relates to a latch mechanismadapted primarily for use with sliding doors and having particularlykthe feature that the latch is collapsible from latching position to itsunlatched position.

Latches for slid-ing doors normally operate between a latching andunlatched position and if the door is closed with the latch in latchingposition, the door will not close and the latch -will strike against thejamb with possible injury to the mechanism. Various attempts have beenmade in the prior art to solve the problem, including the provision ofmeans for restraining the latch member in retracted or unlatchedposition until the door is moved to closed position. This inventionprovides a latch mechanism having the characteristics that if the latchis in extended or latching position when the door is closed; the latchis able to collapse to its normal unlatched position. The inventionfeatures a particular mounting of the latch member such that normally itpivots about a fixed pivot position in operating between latching andunlatched position. The mounting of the latch member and itsrelationship to its actuating lever, is such that the latch member cancollapse by translating from its latching to its unlatched position.Thus, the latch member translates only when it is being collapsed andotherwise during normal operation it simply pivots about its pivotposition.

Accordingly, -a primary object of this invention is to provide a latchmember for sliding doors wherein the latch member is collapsible fromlatching position to its unlatched position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latching mechanism forsliding doors having a latch member mounted for normal pivotal movementbetween latching and unlatching positions, and its mounting providingfor translatory movement of the latch member whereby the latch membermay be collapsed by translatory movement from latching position to itsunlatched position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latch mechanism forsliding doors adapted for collapsing to unlatched position wherein thelatch member has pin and slot mountings providing for pivotal andtranslatory movement of the latch member, and the latch member has anactuating lever connected to it by way of pin and slot connectionsproviding for the collapsing movement of the latch member.

Another object of the` invention is to provide a latch mechanismcomprising a latch member and an operating lever connected to it by pinand slot connections, the slot having a lateral portion providing forovertravel of the lever into a dead locked position requiring thatmovement be imparted directly to the operating lever to secure normalunlatchng movement of the latch'member.

Another object is to provide a latch mechanism as in the foregoingobject wherein the latch member has mountings` providing for translatorymovement of the latch member whereby it is operable to collapsefromlatched `to unlatched position.

, 2,789,852 Patented Apr. 23,` 1957 Further detailed objects andnumerous advantages of theA invention will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description and annexed drawings, where:

Fig. 1 is'a side elevational view of the working parts ofthe invention,with the latch in latched position;A

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, showing the latch member inunlatched position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2, showing the latchrnember inan intermediate position during collapsing;

Fig. 4 is a viewtaken along the line 4-4of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. l.

Referring now more in detail to the various-figures of the drawings,numeral 10 designates a sliding door having a receptacle for receivingtherein the casing 11 of the latch mechanism. The casing 11 has a lsideplate attached by screws engaging in posts 12. The casingryllf hasextending tabs 13 which are attached to the door by screws 14, as shown.The casing has an openingas shown at 15 through which the latch membermay extend to be received in a receptacle 16 in a door jamb, theyreceptacle having a receiving slot 17 adapted to form a keeper for thelatch member, as will be described. n

The latch member is mounted within the casing 11 between a pair of sideplates, providing for adjustment of the amount of reach of the latchmember. These two side plates have a shape as shown at 20 in Fig. 1,andat their lower ends they have circular openings and they are bothjournaled on an operating shaft 2l, the ends of which V'are journaled incircular openings in the side walls of the casing 11. The operatingshaft 21 for the mechanism has a slot 23 therein adapted to receive thestemY of an operating handle or a key, as will be described.' The twoside p1ates20 are adapted to be adjusted angularly about the shaft 21.In the upper end of these plates are slots as shown at 24 and disposedintermediate and between the'se slots is a nut 25 on a screw threadedstem 26. The screw 26 is a Phillips head screw and it extends through awasher l2 9 and through one leg of a supporting bracket 31, which isangular as shown, having a portion engaging the inner surface of the topof the casing 11, and having an extending foot engaging the back wall ofthe casing 11 as shown, the said foot being designated by the numeral32.` When the Phillips head screw 26 is adjusted, the nut 25 is adjustedin position and due to its engagement in the slots 24 it moves theplates y2() angularly about the shaft 21, and adjusts theamount of reachof the latch member, as will appear more clearly presently.

The side plates 20 haveV in them angular or arcuate slots as vshown at35. The latch member is operative to translate in these arcuate slots.The latch member'is in the form of a hook, as designated at 36. Theright-hand portion of the latch member 36 is bifurcated and extendingthrough the bifurcated ends is a pivot pin 37,' the ends of which engagein the arcuate slots 35 in the side or mounting plates 20. One of themounting plates 2,0., as shown in Fig. 3, has extending lugs or tingers,as shown at 40 Vand 41, and wrapped around the finger 40 is a coiledbiasing spring 42, one end of which engages the other nger 41 and theother end of which extendsover the pivot pin 37 between the bifurcationsof the latch member 36 and normally urges the latch member tothe lowerends ofthe slots 35.

The bifurcated portion of latch member 36 has slots formed therein, asindicated at 45 in Fig. 1. These slots have a straight portion as shownin Fig. l, having a short angularly'or laterally extending portion asshown at.46. The purpose and function of the portion 46 of the slotswill become apparent as the description proceeds. i.' Numeral 48designates-an operating or actuating-lever for the latch member 36, andit is rotatable by the operating shaft 21. The end of the operatinglever 48 extends between the bifurcations of the latch member 36 and ithas a transversely extending pin 47, the ends of which engage in theslots 45 in the bifurcations of the latch member 36. The operating lever48 has an extending toe 50 which cooperates with a detent spring 51mounted from one of the posts 12, as shown. The spring 51 has an oit"-set 52 therein, and the toe 50 cooperates with one of the shoulders ofthis offset to provide a spring detent, such that the operating lever 48has a snap action. Furthermore the lever 48 has a small amount ofovertravel under the influence of spring 51. That is, after latch member36 has essentially completed its latching movement, lever 48 continuesto move slightly, moving pin 47 into slot portions 46. Latch member 36is now in a dead locked position; (i. e.) to rotate it about pin 37toward unlatched position movement must be imparted directly to lever48. When pin 47 is in slot portions 46 the force itexerts is along aradius through pin 37 as a center so there is no further tendency torotate latch member 36. Latch member 36 cannot now be forced inwardly orcollapsed without translating in its mountings. As can be seen if aninward or collapsing force is applied to latch member 36, this force isapplied to pin 47. Lever 48 is past center relative to such force and soit tends toward rotating lever 48 counterclockwise rather thanclockwise. The result is that pivoting movement of the latch member 36shifts from pin 37 to pin 47 and the latch member co1- lapses bytranslation in its mountings as described more fully hereinafter.

The parts are shown in unlatched position of the latch in Fig. 2. If inthis figure the lever 48 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, thepin 47 engages in the slots 45 and moves the latch member 36 in aclockwise direction so that it engages in the slot 17 of the jamb andlatches the door in closed position. For unlatching the lever 48 isrotated in the opposite direction and the latch member 36 rotates in theopposite direction to the unlatched position, as shown in Fig. 2. Innormal latching and unlatching movements, the latch member 36 simplypivots, the pivot pin 37 pivoting in the lower end of the slots 35without any translatory movement of the latch member.

If the door is closed with the latch member in extended, that is,latching position, such that it strikes the jamb, the latch member isable to collapse. In the collapsing movement the pin 47 is engaged inthe angular portion 46 of the slots 4S as described above. The latchmember 36 translates inwardly with the pivot pin 37 moving to the upperend of the slots 35 against the force of the biasing spring 42. Thelatch member 36 pivots at the same time about the pin 47. The latchmember collapses to unlatched position, as shown in Fig. 2, the pin 37then having moved back to the lower end of the slots 35 under theinfluence of the biasing spring 42. Thus, it is seen that the latchmember 36 is collapsible from latching to unlatched position bytranslatory and pivotal movement.

It is obvious, of course, that in normal latching and unlatchingmovement of the latch member 36, that the pin 47 on the lever 48 movesin the slots 45 in the latch member 36. That is, it moves upwardlyrelative to these slots and then back down to a position in portion 46as shown in Fig. l.

As can be seen, if the screw 26 is adjusted, the upper ends of theplates 20 are adjusted inwardly or outwardly relative to the casing 11,so that the reach of the latch member 36 is adjustable.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will observe this thisinvention provides a simple and effective latch mechanism for slidingdoors which is able to collapse inwardly to prevent damage of themechanism if the door is closed with the latch in extended position.`The latch mechanism collapses from latched to its normal unlatchedposition. The mechanism has the advantage of having only thel twopositions. That is, it does not have an addif tional position resultingfrom collapsing out of which it would have to be moved to eitherlatching or unlatched position. Thus an operation such as moving fromcollapsed position to latching position and back to unlatching positionis obviated. The latch member normally simply operates with pivotalmovement between latching and unlatched positions and translates onlywhen it is being collapsed to unlatched position. The latch is deadlocked when in normal latching position. The mechanism is formed ofsimple, uncomplicated, and unusually compact parts and very readilyadapts itself to ease of manufacture, fabrication and assembly.

The foregoing disclosure is representative of a preferred form of theinvention and it is intended that it be interpreted in an illustrativerather than a limiting sense. Various modifications and alternatives inthe invention may be adopted by those skilled in the art and it isintended that-the scope of the invention be in accordance with theclaims annexed hereto.

I claim:

l. In a latch mechanism, in combination: means comprising a latch membermovable between latching and unlatched positions; an operating lever forthe latch member operable about a center; mounting means for the latchmember including a pivot pin providing for pivotal movement of the latchmember and having means providing for translatory movement of the pivotpin in a direction away from the operating center of said lever; andbiasing means whereby force is normally applied urging the pivot pintoward the said operating center of the lever, the position andarrangement of the mounting means for the latch member being such thatupon applying a collapsing force to the latchvmember the said pivot pintranslates in a direction away from. the operating center of the saidlever and the latch rotates in normal unlatching direction towardunlatched position, and the mounting means for the latch memberproviding for freedom of the pivot pin to return to normal operatingposition toward the operating center of the lever when the collapsingforce is removed and the latch member has been collapsed to unlatchedposition.

2. In a latch mechanism, including a housing having an opening, incombination: a latch member movable between 1atched and retractedpositions; actuating means for the latch member, including an operatinglever operable about a center; mounting means for the latch memberincluding a pivot pin carried by the latch member adapting it fortranslatory movement toward and away from the operating center of saidlever, the actuating means including means having a pin and slotconnection between the operating lever and the latch member, theconnection Iincluding a means having a slot having a portion providingfor overtravel of the lever into a deadlocked position of the parts; andbiasing means associated with the mounting means whereby the latch .isnormally urged to a normal operating position which is toward the ysaidoperating center of said lever, the said mounting means beingstructurally arranged for such directional translatory move'- ment ofthe latch member that upon applying collapsing force to the latch memberit translates in a direction away from the said operating center of saidlever against the force of said biasing means and also rotates inunlatching direction toward unlatched position of the latch member, themounting means for the latch member having freedom to return to normaloperating position when the collapsing force is removed.

3. In a latch mechanism, in combination: means comprising a latch membermovable between latching and unlatched positions; an operating lever forthe latch member operable about a center; and mounting means for thelatch member providing for pivotal movement of the latch member andtranslatory movement of the pivot point of the latch member away fromthe center of operation of said operating lever, the mounting means forthe latch member comprising a pin and means having a slot, one of whichis xed in position, the position and arrangement of the mounting meansfor the latch member being such that upon applying a collapsing force tothe latch member the pivot point of the latch member translates awayfrom the center of operation of the lever member, whereby the latchmember pivots in unlatching direction toward unlatched position, and themounting means for the latch member providing for freedom of the pivotpoint of the latch member to return to normal operating position towardthe operating center of the operating lever when the c01- lapsing forceis removed and the latch member has been collapsed to unlatchedposition.

4. In a latch mechanism, in combination: means comprising a latch membermovable between latching and unlatched positions; an operating lever forthe latch member operable about a center; Iand mounting means for thelatch member providing for pivotal movement of the latch member andvtranslatory movement of the pivot point of the latch member away fromthe center of operation of said operating lever, the mounting means forthe latch member comprising a pin carried by the latch member and afixed member having a slot in which the pin operates, the slot having adirection generally to provide for translatory movement ot the latchmember toward and away from the operating center of the said (lever, andmeans normally biasing the latch member toward the end of the slotnearer to the operating center of said lever, the position andarrangement of the mounting means for the latch member being such thatupon applying a collapsing force to the latch member the pivotpoint ofthe latch member translates away from the center of operation of thelever member whereby thel latch member pivots in unlatching directiontoward unlatched position, and the mounting means for the latch memberproviding for freedom of the pivot point of the latch member to returnto normal operating position toward the operating center of theoperating llever when the collapsing force is removed and the latchmember has been collapsed to unlatched position.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,701,156 Palmer Feb. l, 1955 2,701,157 Le Bon Feb. l, 1955 2,736,185Collar Feb. 28, 1956

